Veterans Day is commemorated yearly on November 11 to honor individuals who served in the armed forces. Visit Eventbrite for community-wide events taking place.
People can do much to thank veterans for their service and sacrifice. Here are some examples.
- Provide a free restaurant meal. Offer to take out a veteran for a meal. If you see a veteran eating in a restaurant, anonymously pay the bill for that person.
- Send care packages. Communities can gather resources to make care packages for veterans who live in town, or to send to troops stationed elsewhere.
- Buy from veterans. Seek out veteran-owned businesses, and then make purchases from their retail stores or utilize their services.
- Volunteer at a VA hospital. Spend time with veterans where they receive care for current health needs or past injuries suffered in combat.
- Decorate cemeteries. Honor fallen veterans by placing flowers or flags by their gravesites.
- Participate in a parade. Consider participating in a local parade to honor veterans. Check out https://www.facebook.com/wnyveteransdayparadecommittee to get in touch with this year’s Veterans’ Parade Committee.
- Write to the newspaper. Write an op-ed to submit to the newspaper about veterans in the community. Mention local veterans who have unique stories, or speak about the importance of veterans to the community.
- Ask a veteran to speak. If you work in a school or a community center, ask veterans to share their experiences with area youth.
- Visit local memorials. Spend time visiting memorials nearby and paying homage to the veterans who devoted their time, or even their lives, to service.
Community members have plenty of opportunities and ways to give back to veterans in the area.
